The grand, dimly lit hall of Azzurro Vanel's manor was eerily quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by a suffocating tension. The guards stationed at the entrance braced themselves, guns at the ready, as the sound of deliberate footsteps echoed from beyond the heavy oak doors.
The doors swung open, and Kuri stepped inside, her black maid uniform pristine, her calm blue eyes scanning the room. The soft glow of moonlight filtered through the high windows, catching on her raven hair and creating an ethereal, almost otherworldly effect.
"Who the hell are you?!" barked one of the guards, leveling his gun at her.
Kuri tilted her head slightly, her expression unchanging. "Pardon me. I represent the Phantomhive household," she said smoothly. Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it—a sharpness that sent a chill down the guards' spines.
"Get her!" the lead guard shouted.
Several of them surged forward, guns raised.
Before they could fire, Kuri flicked her wrist, and the weapons were wrenched from their hands. The guns flew into the air and twisted violently, metal screeching as they were bent into shapeless, useless scraps that clattered to the ground.
"I hate guns," Kuri said evenly, her gaze sweeping over the stunned guards. "They're loud and annoying. Now, unless you want your necks to follow the fate of your weapons…" She stepped forward, her voice dropping to a hiss. "…retreat."
The guards hesitated, fear etched across their faces, but their orders held them in place.
"I said, retreat!" Kuri's voice rose, her calm demeanor cracking as an invisible force exploded from her. The guards were thrown back against the walls, their bodies slamming into the stone with bone-crunching force. Groans of pain echoed through the hall as they slumped to the floor, unconscious.
Kuri adjusted her gloves, brushing off imaginary dust as she walked further into the manor. Her steps were measured, her eyes sharp and unyielding.
XXX
Ciel sat in a high-backed chair, his posture stiff despite the situation. Azzurro stood behind him, a pistol aimed directly at the boy's head.
"Stay back! Get back or I'll shoot you!" Azzurro shouted as Kuri stepped into the room.
Kuri paused, her gaze flicking briefly to Ciel, whose calm expression betrayed no hint of fear. Without a word, she raised her hand, and Azzurro's gun was wrenched from his grip. The weapon twisted in the air, bending into a grotesque shape before clattering uselessly to the ground.
"Guns really are a nuisance," Kuri muttered, her tone cold.
Azzurro, panicking, grabbed Ciel by the collar and yanked him to his feet. His arm wrapped around the boy's neck, his grip tightening. "I'll snap the brat's neck!" he threatened, his voice shaking.
Kuri froze, her hands at her sides clenching into fists. Her eyes flicked to Ciel, seeking his command.
"Master?" she asked, her voice unusually soft.
Ciel's expression remained unreadable. Then, with a deliberate movement, he adjusted his posture, the patch over his right eye slipping free to reveal the glowing mark of his contract.
"Stop fooling around," he said, his voice low and commanding. "I order you, by your true name—Sadako. Save me now."
The room plunged into darkness.
XXX
The air grew heavy, suffocating, as the shadows in the room seemed to come alive. The temperature dropped sharply, and a faint, unnatural sound—a mix of whispers and distant screams—filled the space.
Sadako emerged.
Her long black hair unfurled like a veil of darkness, her crimson eyes burning in the void. Her form was not entirely solid, shifting between Kuri's familiar figure and something far more monstrous. Her pale, almost corpse-like skin shimmered faintly, the faint glow of the contract mark visible on her forehead.
Azzurro stumbled back, releasing Ciel in his terror. "W-What are you?!" he screamed.
Sadako's gaze fixed on him, her expression devoid of pity. "Your end," she whispered, her voice reverberating unnaturally.
Before he could run, she was upon him. The room filled with the sound of rending flesh and cracking bone as Sadako's vengeance was unleashed.
The remaining guards burst into the room, weapons drawn, but they froze in horror as the demon turned her gaze on them. With a single gesture, their bodies were lifted into the air, suspended as if by invisible strings. One by one, they screamed as their necks twisted at impossible angles, the life draining from their eyes.
XXX
By the time the sun rose, Kuri was back to herself, walking steadily along the path to the Phantomhive Manor. In her arms, she carried Ciel, who had fallen asleep, his small frame limp and peaceful.
But Kuri's mind was anything but peaceful.
She could still feel the echo of Sadako's power coursing through her veins, the memory of the carnage clear in her mind. She had felt it—the sheer, unrelenting force with which Sadako had torn through the manor. The guards. The servants. The very walls themselves had been soaked in blood.
And yet, Kuri had remained intact. Her will, her control, had kept Sadako from harming the one person who truly mattered.
She glanced down at Ciel's sleeping face, her expression softening. "Thank goodness for small mercies," she whispered.
She had been able to knock him unconscious before the worst of it. How long she would retain this power—this will to protect him—remained to be seen.
Kuri's steps faltered slightly as she reached the gates of the manor, her grip on Ciel tightening. A shadow flickered at the edge of her vision, and she felt Sadako stir within her, a low chuckle echoing in her mind.
"You can't protect him forever," Sadako whispered, her voice dripping with dark amusement.
"I will," Kuri whispered back, her voice firm. "As long as I draw breath."
Sadako's laughter faded, leaving only silence as Kuri carried Ciel through the gates. For now, he was safe. But the line between protector and destroyer grew thinner with every passing day.
XXX
Hours later, as Ciel stirred awake in his room, he found Kuri seated beside him, a quiet calm on her face. She had changed back into her usual uniform, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
"You're awake, Master," she said softly, her eyes meeting his.
Ciel sat up slowly, his gaze lingering on her. "You brought me back," he said.
"Of course," Kuri replied, her voice steady. "That's my job, isn't it?"
Ciel's lips twitched into the faintest of smiles. "You're more than just a maid, Kuri. You're…" He paused, his gaze drifting toward the window. "You're something else entirely."
Kuri looked away, her cheeks warming slightly. "Don't flatter me, Master. It doesn't suit you."
Ciel smirked, leaning back against the pillows. "It's not flattery if it's true."
For a moment, the room was quiet, the weight of their shared secrets hanging between them. Then, Kuri reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from Ciel's face.
"I'll always protect you," she said softly.
Ciel's eyes met hers, and though he didn't say it aloud, the smallest nod of his head spoke volumes.
Kuri smiled faintly, though the shadow of Sadako's presence lingered in her mind. For now, all that mattered was Ciel. And for him, she would face any darkness—even the one within entered the Azurro manor.